A new progressive political party founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana faced turmoil today concerning the rollout of its membership platform. The party, initially established as ‘Your Party’ earlier this year, experienced internal strife as co-founder Ms. Sultana alleged exclusion and sexist treatment within the organization.
Former Labour leader Mr. Corbyn advised ‘Your Party’ supporters to terminate direct debit payments following the unauthorized dissemination of an email announcing the opening of the membership portal, where individuals could sign up as regular members for £55 annually or £5 monthly, with a discounted rate of £25 per year available.
Prior to this incident, ex-Labour MP Ms. Sultana had been actively promoting membership enrollment through social media, asserting that over 20,000 individuals had already joined. She also dismissed claims that the membership link was fake, attributing such allegations to right-wing actors acting in bad faith.
However, a sudden alert posted by Mr. Corbyn cautioned supporters against a fraudulent email circulating with details of a supposed membership portal, urging them to disregard it and cancel any direct debits established. He reassured backers that a legitimate membership avenue would soon be accessible at yourparty.uk, enabling them to shape the party’s future and national direction.
The dispute took a public turn when independent MPs in the Commons, including Shockat Adam, Iqbal Mohamed, Adnan Hussain, and Ayoub Khan, released a letter endorsing the party, conspicuously missing Ms. Sultana’s endorsement. In response, Ms. Sultana disclosed being marginalized from official accounts and unveiled the launch of the membership portal, emphasizing her commitment to grassroots participation.
Expressing her concerns over the situation, Ms. Sultana called for transparency from Jeremy Corbyn and demanded clarity on organizational structures and decision-making processes to uphold democratic principles within the party. Meanwhile, ‘Your Party’ took swift action by reporting the unauthorized email incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office, emphasizing compliance with data protection regulations and responsibilities to supporters.
In a lighthearted jab, a Labour insider humorously characterized the ongoing Corbyn-Sultana dialogue as a struggle over party ownership, highlighting the anticipated challenges before the party’s full operational commencement.
On a different note, Zack Polanski, the new leader of the Green Party, extended an invitation for dialogue with Corbyn and Sultana, recognizing their dedication to social justice initiatives. However, Polanski affirmed his current focus on fortifying the Green Party’s membership base and influence, emphasizing the party’s recent growth and achievements in local councils and public opinion polls.
Overall, the unfolding events highlight the complexities and internal dynamics shaping the nascent left-wing party’s path forward, as key figures navigate challenges in establishing a cohesive and inclusive political movement.